Meat, dairy soften sales total

Data from Statistics New Zealand showed the volume of all manufacturing sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent for the quarter, while the value increased 0.5 percent. ASB Senior Economist, Jane Turner said the increase was small compared to other periods due to the weak meat and dairy sales volumes. Ms Turner noted that the recent dry weather experienced across the country casted doubt over further dairy production growth for the rest of the milking season.